Steven Osborne has an international reputation for his elegant, lyrical and powerful playing and his programme for St Magnus Festival brings all these qualities to bear. Brahms’ reflective and instrospective Intermezzi, regarded by Brahms as “sad lullabies” contrast with the enormous range and intensity of Rachmaninov’s virtuoso showpieces which are a rollercoaster of emotion and technical skill. Debussy’s vision of a cathedral submerged under the sea is a masterpiece of invention conjuring a vast soundscape as the bells toll under the sea.

Steven Osborne is no stranger to the Festival having played here whilst a young student at St Mary’s Music School. Last year he joined Alasdair Nicolson at Steinway’s factory to chose the new Festival piano that he will play for this concert.